1. St. Andrews Castle is a ruins of a medieval fortress that was built in the 13th century and once served as the residence of the bishops and archbishops of St. Andrews. The castle sits on a rocky headland overlooking the sea and was an important stronghold during the Wars of Scottish Independence. One of the most interesting features of the castle is the bottle dungeon, a deep pit prison featuring a narrow entrance at the top and widening out towards the bottom. Legend has it that one unfortunate prisoner was left in the dungeon to starve to death with a freshly baked loaf of bread left tantalizingly out of reach. Other notable features of the castle include the underground mine and counter-mine used during the Siege of St. Andrews in 1546-47, and the Sea Tower, which offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
2. The castle is open to visitors from April to September, daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm. From October to March, it is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm and on Sundays from 12.30pm to 4pm. The phone number for St. Andrews Castle is 01334 477196.
3. Admission to St. Andrews Castle costs £9 for adults, £7.20 for concessions, and £5.40 for children aged 5-15. Children under 5 can enter for free. The castle is located in the town of St. Andrews, which is easily accessible by car or by train from Glasgow and Edinburgh. From the train station, it is a pleasant 1.5-mile walk to the castle. There is also limited parking available nearby.
